Daily Almanac for
Dec 2, 2009
Search White Pages
Search: Infoplease Info search tips
Search: Biographies Bio search tips
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable—C

Corbeaux

Bearers, i.e. persons who carry the dead to the grave; mutes, etc. So called from the corbillards, or coches d'eau, which went from Paris to Corbeil with the dead bodies of those who died in the 16th century of a fatal epidemic.

“Jai lu quelque part que ce coche [the Gorbillard] servit, sous Henri IV., a transporter des morts, victimes d'une epidémie de Paris à Corbeil. Le nom de Corbillard resta depuis aux voitures funebres.” —Alf. Bonnardot.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
Corceca
Corbant
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

More on Corbeaux from Infoplease:

  • Corbeaux - Corbeaux Bearers, i.e. persons who carry the dead to the grave; mutes, etc. So called from the ...
  • Henry François Becque - Becque, Henry François Becque, Henry François , 1837–99, French dramatist. His ...
  • Dictionary of Phrase and Fable: C - Definitions, origins, and illustrative excerpts for words, phases, and literary allusions starting with "C"
    • Cite
    • Print
    • Bookmark

Related Content